Product

Mini Motor Bench

Electric Vehicles (EV) and
Hybrid Vehicles (HEV)

The Mini Motor Bench (MMB) provides a development environment for motor controllers. A motor controller is provided as a flexible Real-Time Rapid Prototyping (RT-RPT) controller device. The system is suitable for control algorithm development and parameter optimization.

Mini Motor Bench

Motor controller development

Many motors have been introduced to the market for a variety of uses. There is also therefore a demand for a number of controllers in order to provide optimal control of motors. To match the pace of motor development, controllers must also be developed quickly, and one way to ensure this, while producing durable and effective products, is to develop motors and controllers in parallel. Generally, motor controllers are developed with a HILS system but there is a demand to confirm the developed control algorithm with an actual motor. However, it requires huge investments to prepare a real target motor.

Downsizing the target motor

Mini Motor Bench

Preparing a large size motor for motor controller development requires a high capacity of electric power, a rigid design system for withstanding high torque demand and a high running cost. In reality, most users just want to test their motor controller quickly and easily. A&D offers the Mini Motor Bench system as an inexpensive but realistic motor controller development environment with a down sized motor bench system. In general, the main difference between large motors and downsized motors is the difference in their moment of inertia, but this has little influence for the development of controllers. Therefore, confirming the control algorithm with a downsized motor can be considered sufficient for control of motors of larger size as well.

Features of the Mini Motor Bench

All necessary components for motor controller development are prepared. Users are able to trial various motor control algorithms and optimize the number of parameters of the motor controller.

  • A brushless DC motor (BLDC) as the target motor
  • DC motor for simulating motor load. Torque adjustment is performed by changing the load resistance.
  • An inverter circuit and power unit for driving the motor is embedded inside the system.
  • A resolver speed signal from the motor and a PWM signal from the RT-RPT controller act as interfaces between the MMB system and the RT-RPT.

Real-Time controller

The RT-RPT system has a wide range of flexibility and can be used for various purposes.

  • AD5435: Real-Time Rapid Prototyping system
    Main unit of the RT-RPT controller has seven option board slots for enhancing the system. Core model is created from MATLAB/Simulink™.
  • AD5430-18
    Specialized board for motor control application (Other option boards are available.)

Application examples

  • Motor controllers evaluation
    It is possible to connect an actual motor controller to the MMB. Hence motor controllers can be evaluated in a realistic environment.
  • Motor controller algorithm development
    Using a RT-RPT controller, control algorithms can be modified with a MATLAB/Simulink™ model. This is the best fit for motor control engineers.
  • Educational tool
    Together with the compact size of the MMB and RT-RPT controller, they come with basic software that makes the system suitable as an educational tool.
  • Bench-mark for new development
    The control algorithm software and MMB hardware circuit diagram are open to the user. Therefore, users can use this system as a bench-mark and can modify the system by themselves.

Mini Motor Bench

Software package

The RT-RPT controller system comes with a control program, so the system can be used immediately. Also users are able to modify the software such as the control algorithm and GUI interface for customization.
Included:

  • Circuit diagram and parts list
  • Control source code (MATLAB/Simulink™ model)
    Includes MATLAB/Simulink™ add-on compiling environment (Please prepare MATLAB/Simulink™ separately.)
  • GUI building software tool
    Design application software (VirtualDSPConsole) is included.

Mini Motor Bench

Circuit diagram

VirtualDSPConsole

Specifications

Mini Motor Bench specifications (reference)

Power AC power specification 90 to 260V
Current 2.7A
Motor rotation speed MAX 3000 rpm
Motor output 30W
Resolver specification Can connect to AD5430-18
Carry case size 4500 mm x 3500 mm x 2000 mm

Control target (AD5435) specifications

Memory SDRAM 512MB
OS RTOS
Display 5.7inch color TFT LCD (with backlight)
Operation interface Resistive touch screen. Customizable function keys
I/O slots For AD5430 series I/O board 7 slots
PMC interface For A&D link or FlexRay 1 slot (option)
Peripheral connections Ethernet, 100base-T FTP server function
Power specifications AC power specification (AD5435A) 85 to 264V
DC power specification (AD5435) 12V (6 to 18Vpp) or 24V (16 to 36Vpp)
Power consumption 100VA (AC or DC power)
Operation temperature range 5 to 40°C
Operation humidity range 5 to 90% R.H. (non-condensing)
Dimensions 318(W) x 230(D) x 168(H) mm
Weight About 6.5kg (chassis only)

Control board (AD5430-18) specifications

Resolver input R/D converter
Transformation ratio
Output impedance
Output excitation signal
Maximum angle speed
AU6802NI (made by Tamagawa Seiki)
0.286 / 0.5
10Ω or less
10kHz / 20kHz
240,000 rpm
Analog input Number of channels
Signal format
Sampling frequency
Input range
Resolution
4
Differential signal
40kHz (maximum) Can synchronize with PWM carrier wave.
±5V
16 bit
PWM output Number of control axes
Output format
Output voltage
Carrier wave
6
Differential (UH, VH, WH, UL, VL, WL)
0 to 5V
Triangular wave, 20kHz (maximum)

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